A flasher who exposed himself in hospital and sexually assaulted a nurse during a drunken rampage has been jailed.

John Donoghue, of Maidstone, attacked his victim after she noticed him flashing his genitals in an accident and emergency department.

The 32-year-old, who has previously been convicted for flashing at children in a park, was jailed at Canterbury Crown Court on Thursday (Nov 11) for 30 months.

Donoghue unleashed the abuse at Ashford’s William Harvey Hospital in August after downing two-and-a-half litres of vodka.

The sex offender was discovered unconscious at a petrol station in Ashford before he was rushed off for treatment.

But Donoghue began thrashing and “throwing his weight around” before carrying out his sordid acts, prosecutors said.

“When he was assisted to the toilet the nurse realised he had exposed (himself) and was walking around the hospital,” explained Sean Summerfield, prosecuting.

“As they reached the toilet he grabbed her breast and squeezed.”

She pushed him away, warned him not to grope her again and raised the alarm with colleagues who quarantined him.

The attack left the nurse unable to help treat patients for hours.

Moments later, Donoghue leapt on a bed, stripped off his sweater and belt, waved it at staff, spat at a nurse and threw his shoes at security.

He assaulted two security guards and a healthcare worker before his arrest.

'The spitting was particularly pertinent given the pandemic we are in.'

One victim told the court: "Although working in A&E you can become used to working with aggressive and intoxicated people, it does not make it right for people to assault our staff."

Donoghue has racked up 32 previous convictions for 73 offences, including routinely spitting at emergency workers and exposure.

Wearing very little clothing, Donoghue was caught performing a sex act in a playground “causing children to be distressed” in July 2019, the court heard.

And in May 2020, after being taken to hospital he spat at a member of staff.

“The spitting was particularly pertinent given the pandemic we are in,” Mr Summerfield said.

Ali Dewji, mitigating, said Donoghue was racked with remorse and had been in an “extremely low mood” before the drink-fuelled rampage, brought on by a battle with alcohol addiction.

Donoghue, of High Street, will be placed on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.

He pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to sexual assault, exposure, and three counts of assault.

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